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Month: April 2022

Macron’s been re-elected: Now what?

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/04/2022

Emmanuel Macron has succeeded in securing a re-election victory, making him the first governing president of the Fifth Republic ever to do so. Now that he’s officially won though he faces a steep path ahead with a nation at odds, an economy in flux, and an upcoming parliamentary election that could still potentially render him impotent.

Emmanuel Macron, 44, secured a second term in office on Sunday, beating out rival Marine Le Pen with a solid 58.8% of the vote.  

The election was notable in that it had a turnout of just 72%, the highest rate of abstention for any second-round vote in France since 1969. Meanwhile, the far-right Le Pen had a more-than-decent showing with over 13 million voters going for her brand of politics, showing just how divided France currently is.

It was a close call in the Alpes-Maritimes department, where Macron narrowly secured a majority of 50.1%. Le Pen, however, took the majority in the neighbouring Var department with 55.1% of the vote. Macron’s strongest support came from the northern department of Yvelines, where 71% of voters backed the incumbent.

Macron’s win is, thus, imperfect at best. Voters showed displeasure for both candidates by either abstaining at a massive rate or by casting a blank ballot, which accounted for around 12%. 

But now that he has secured five more years, the president has some serious challenges and priorities to address.

The first hurdle concerns the parliamentary elections being held on 12th and 19th June. His La République en Marche (LaREM) party and their political allies will need to secure a majority of 289 in the 577-seat lower house.

The first round of the elections showed French voters are aligned across not two, but three axes – the radical left, the centrists and the far-right, making this upcoming election far from a sure thing for Macron and his coalition. Without obtaining a majority in parliament, Macron’s wiggle room is significantly curtailed, and his government will not be able to push through legislation promised during the campaigns.

Macron has said his government will be open to “anyone who supports his project” but coalescing these disparate factions may not be easy. His ace in the hole will be the environment, making this hot-button issue one to lure in those from the far-left to solidify his government.  

Macron faces a populace who is unhappy about current economic conditions, with cost-of-living issues being of great concern. To ease the burden on those feeling the squeeze, he has said he will maintain caps on gas and electricity as well as offering a government rebate at the pumps if petrol prices continue soaring. He also has a loose framework to give more support to low-income and self-employed workers.

The incumbent is still pushing ahead with the unpopular reform to the pension scheme, raising retirement age to 65 by 2031, except for those whose occupations involve hard physical labour. While the French electorate on the surface balk at this change, there are many who understand that this is needed. It is thought these measures will be in place by autumn.

To soften the blow, he has vowed to meet with union leaders and employers in summer but has said determinedly that he will not back down on this point, declaring it a necessity to keep the economy ticking along. Protests are expected.

The president is also planning to open discussions on education reforms, including more school autonomy and better provisioning for rural establishments. He also wants to see more police on the streets and an uptick in the number of magistrates and judicial support workers.

On the international scene, it is thought there will be a continuation of his current policies, which focus on defending western values and being at the forefront of international relations as a notable world leader.

Despite the pre-election barbs and anger, it should be considered that his re-election was not entirely unwelcome by millions of average French citizens. By and large, many in the population don’t find him all that bad, having kept unemployment down, managing the pandemic fairly well and vocally standing up for Ukraine in the war.

Now to see if the campaign rhetoric holds and the if public get a different kind of Macron this time around, one who is a better listener, less of a know-it-all, and more of a healer.

 

 

Photo taken from President Emmanuel Macron’s reelection speech on Sunday night

 

 

 

 

 

Macron beats Le Pen to win second term

by: Cassandra Tanti
24/04/2022

Emmanuel Macron has been elected to a second term as French president securing 58.2% of the vote on Sunday night, according to the initial IPSOS polling institute.

His far-right opponent Marine Le Pen won 41.8% of the vote.

The margin is wider than polls had measured in the last week of the campaign but was far narrower than their 2017 clash when Macron received 66.1% and Le Pen 33.9%.

Voter turnout was just over 63% according to the Interior Ministry, down 2% on the last election and the lowest figure in 50 years.

The 2022 campaign was set against a backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a cost of living crisis in France, a surge in support for the far-left among younger generations, and suggestions of widespread voter apathy.

Marine Le Pen, who has now run for France’s presidency three times, chose to distance herself from her previous rhetoric on the European Union and euro integration and instead concentrate on the economic struggles of French voters.

Centrist Macron, 44, plans to continue his reformist agenda, recently promising to help France reach full employment and change the country’s retirement from 62 to 65.

But Macron can expect little to no grace period after many, especially on the left, only voted for him reluctantly to block the far-right from winning. Protests that marred part of his first mandate could erupt again quite quickly, as he tries to press on with pro-business reforms.

“There will be continuity in government policy because the president has been reelected. But we have also heard the French people’s message,” Health Minister Olivier Veran told BFM TV.

Victory for the pro-European Union Macron would be hailed by allies as a reprieve for mainstream politics that have been rocked in recent years by Britain’s exit from the European Union, the 2016 election of Donald Trump and the rise of a new generation of nationalist leaders.

The outcome of the election is expected to be confirmed by official results overnight.

 

 

Who is Monaco’s new Health Minister?

by: Stephanie Horsman
22/04/2022

Christophe Robino officially took up his post as Monaco’s new Minister of Health and Social Action on Wednesday, vowing to maintain excellence in health standards. So, who is this political outsider and what exactly does his job entail?

Christophe Robino is a busy man. He has spent the majority of his life as a medical doctor, specialising in nephrology and medical resuscitation. In this capacity, he was named as Head of the Department of Medical Specialities and Haemodialysis at Princess Grace Hospital (CHPG), Medical Director of the Private Haemodialysis Centre of Monaco, President of the Syndicate of Hospital Patricians, Member of the Board of Directors of the CHPG, Vice-President of the Council of the Order of Physicians, and Member of the Improvement Committee of the Scientific Centre of Monaco.

Robino is also a member of the National Council, where he serves as President of the Commission for Education, Youth and Sports, and in 2018 was appointed Chairman of the Commission for Social Interests and Various Affairs. Additionally, he actively participated in the meetings of the Joint Covid-19 Monitoring Committee set up in March 2020 to monitor the pandemic.

As such, Robino is well-placed to step into the role of Minister. The job is vast, and encompasses employment, labour relations, occupational health, public health, social security insurance, social services and families, the disabled and the elderly.

“Among the major axes around which his mission revolves, Christophe Robino wishes to continue to guarantee the excellence of the Monegasque health system, to maintain an effective model of protection, particularly for the most vulnerable, and to promote new social advances,” the government said of the new minister’s goals.

The departments that report to the ministry include the Department of Employment, the Department of Health Affairs, the Department of Social Welfare and Social Services, the State Medical Benefits Office, and the Secretariat of the Employment Tribunal in the public realm, and the Princess Grace Hospital and Social Protection Unit in the private sector.

Finally, it is also the task of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs to monitor changes in international agreements relating to social protection and in particular bilateral social security agreements with France and Italy.

The new minister will have his hands full, to be sure, but as a man whose credentials and past work ethic have shown him to be professional and diligent, he will no doubt rise to the challenge.

 

 

Photo by Stéphane Danna, Government Communication Department

 

 

 

 

International Dog Show attracting “top dogs”

by: Stephanie Horsman
22/04/2022

The Monaco Kennel Club is set to host the International Monaco Dog Show, with nine expert judges choosing the best of the best canines over two days, with more than 170 breeds being represented.

On 7th and 8th May, the world’s top dogs will compete at the International Monaco Dog Show, hosted by the Monaco Kennel Club. Organisers are expecting over a thousand dogs to enter the ring throughout the two-day period.

Nine prestigious judges, well-known in the dog show world, will assess the qualities of a variety of pooches, including popular breeds such as terriers, dachshunds, retrievers, sheep and cattle dogs, pointers, sighthounds and even companion and toy breeds.

Divided into 10 groups, the dogs are judged by different criteria such as beauty, obedience and skills. The organisers have strict rules about animal handling and are no longer accepting animals with clipped ears, nor do they allow cages at the show. Vaccinations must be up to date and there must be no signs of mistreatment in any way.

Pups competing at the Monaco event can also go on to compete in the Mediterranean Trophy competition with the next step being in San Remo in June followed by the finals in Martigues in September.

For up and comers, there will be a Junior Handling contest where young people in training from age five to nine and aged 10 to 17 years of age will be judged as they present a dog. In this case, the handler will be on show, not the pooch, giving those new to the ring a chance to improve and learn.

Prizes and awards, including the Grand Prix d’Honneur, will be handed out on Sunday 8th May from 3:30pm.

 

 

Photo source: Monaco Kennel Club

 

 

 

 

 

Russian soprano Anna Netrebko a sell-out in Monaco despite controversy

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/04/2022

Monte-Carlo Opera is facing backlash over its decision to recruit Russian superstar Soprano Anna Netrebko for a series of four sell-out performances, starting Friday.

On 19th April, Monaco Life published an article revealing that the Monte-Carlo Opera had hired Anna Netrebko to sing the title role in four performances of Puccini’s ‘Manon Lescaut’ in April, replacing Maria Agresta who was forced to cancel for health reasons.

The Russian soprano, one of opera’s biggest stars, has faced a wave of cancellations around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera where she has sung for 20 years and become its prima donna, because of her ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After issuing three statements denouncing the war on Ukraine, and despite further cancellations in Munich and Zurich, the Monte-Carlo Opera hired the soprano for her debut performance on the Monte-Carlo stage.

“Anna Netrebko made a statement two weeks ago regarding the war and her relationship with Putin. She has taken a clear position against the war in Ukraine. As a consequence, she has been declared an ‘enemy of the homeland’ by the speaker of the Duma and a theatre in Novosibirsk cancelled her appearance,” the company’s spokesperson Christiano Ribeerio told the New York Times.

Anna Netrebko will therefore make her first performance in the Principality tonight, Friday 22nd April, in a sell-out gala show. Not a single ticket is available for all three remaining performances this month.

But the company has received enormous backlash over its decision.

Following publication of the article, Monaco Life has been inundated with emails and comments on our social media from readers.

“Shame on you, Opera de Monte-Carlo, cancel Anna Netrebko’s performance, save your reputation”, wrote one reader. “Disgraceful for Monaco, what a shame”, commented another.

“Receiving an active Putin supporter looks very bad on the Opera of Monte-Carlo. Is it done to please the tastes of Russian oligarchs supporting the war?” wrote another in an email, which – like most of the emails we received – was copied to members of the Monte-Carlo Opera. They added, “Will the proceeds of these performances be used to support Ukrainian refugees?”

However, not every response has been critical. Some have actually praised the opera’s decision to separate art and politics:

“Bravo Monaco! And bravo Anna who hasn’t done anything wrong besides being celebrated in her home country by its president, who has done what he has done but was at the time the respected leader of his country.”

“Do not mix art and war!!”, declared another, while others were grateful to receive the soprano in the Principality for the first time: “Lucky are we! Greatest soprano of our time. Big thanks to the Metropolitan Opera”.

In addition to Friday night’s gala performance, Anna Netrebko will take to the Monte-Carlo stage on Sunday 24th, Wednesday 27th and Saturday 30th April.

“I am overjoyed to be unexpectedly making my stage debut at the Monte-Carlo Opera,” Netrebko said recently. “It is going to be made even more special by performing with my husband, tenor Yusif Eyvazov, in the same Puccini masterpiece that marked our first encounter at the Rome Opera in 2014. I wish my friend and colleague Maria Agresta a full and speedy recovery.”

 

SEE ALSO:

Russian soprano hired by Monaco after being shunned in NY

 

 

Mairie unveils support group for caregivers

by: Stephanie Horsman
22/04/2022

A new programme called ‘Meetings for Caregivers’ is being launched to give support to the people who have the selfless and sometimes difficult task of caring for others.

Caregiving is no walk in the park. People who look after a sick, disabled or non-mobile charge often find themselves isolated with no one to speak to about the daily challenges, as well as the rewards, of this noble occupation.

The American Psychological Association states that caregivers are under huge strain, and often find themselves overworked, stressed, fatigued, guilt-ridden, depressed, and full of anxiety. This can lead to the carer themselves falling ill or becoming burnt-out.

One of the recommended ways of reducing stress and helping caregivers know they have support is by being part of a group. To that end, the Mairie, under the impetus of First Deputy Mayor in Charge of Social Affairs Camille Svara, has created a new monthly meeting called the ‘Meeting for Caregivers’.

These one and a half hour long sessions will be led by a social worker and coordinating nurse in a warm and intimate setting. They are meant to be a place where caregivers can talk about their experiences and where they can be heard as a voice of their own. It is also a good social outlet where they can meet others in situations similar to theirs and have a relaxing moment without worries. 

Additionally, for those who are struggling, the facilitators will have advice on outside resources that caregivers can use to help.

The meetings will take place the first Thursday of every month in the A Fabrica room at Princesse Antoinette Park. The meetings are free of charge and the next one will be held on 5th May at 5pm.

Despite free access, registration is requested. To inscribe, call Seniors and Social Action on +377 93 15 28 35.